Basketball Referee

Basketball Referee

Rndballref

20 Years Experience

Chicago, IL

Male, 60

For twenty years I officiated high school, AAU and park district basketball games, retiring recently. For a few officiating is the focus of their occupation, while for most working as an umpire or basketball referee is an avocation. I started ref'ing to earn beer money during college, but it became a great way to stay connected to the best sports game in the universe. As a spinoff, I wrote a sports-thriller novel loosely based on my referee experiences titled, Advantage Disadvantage

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Last Answer on September 20, 2019

Best Rated

Player received his 5th foul. The team huddles for the allotted 20 seconds. Officials weren't alerted and gave the ball to the fouled player who shoots a free throw. They then take the free throw away and require re-shooting. Correctable error?

Asked by Darrell about 8 years ago

They should not have taken the free throw away. It is not a correctable error.

Can the player who saved the ball from going Out of bounds be the first player to touch it when he comes back in bounds

Asked by Tim over 8 years ago

The rule prohibits a player from voluntarily leaving the court. so if the player went out of bounds purposely to get around a defender it is a violation. If however the player jumped to save the ball and landed out of bounds, he may step back in and gain control of the ball. He cannot pick up the ball and dribble, because throwing the ball while saving it constitutes the start of a dribble.

3. My Question: If I maintain my dribble can I jump up and then down again while maintaing my dribble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSyko1Zq738 (Jason Williams -NBA - "Bunny Hop" at the 1 minute mark). (Legal or Illegal?)

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

Yes. As i have stated a million times you cannot travel in the middle of a legit dribbling sequence. You can jump, spin around, rub your belly etc., as long as you are able to contunue dribbling after your nonsense without double dribbling.

If the player with the ball is running super fast down the court to make a lay up, how do i stop them? I can't just step in front of them and block them because they'll trip and go flying

Asked by Alaysha about 8 years ago

You have to establish legal guarding position down court, then you can move obliquely and take a charge. Alternatively you can chase from behind and hope when you swat at the layup you get all ball.

Is it a violation or alternating possession if the ball lodges between rim and backboard on the last free throw

Asked by Mindy over 8 years ago

Alternating possession.

If the ball is fixing to go out of bounds and my opponent tries to throw it off my leg wouldn't it be out of bounds on my opponent if I step out of bounds and become part of the out of bounds as the ball bounces off my leg?

Asked by Doug almost 8 years ago

The ball is not out bounds until it hits the floor out of bounds or a player who is out of bounds. If a player steps out of bounds and is the first to touch the ball, the other team gets a throw in. So no, a player cannot get a throw in by getting out of bounds and then getting hit with the ball.

can a player holding a basketball intentionally throw the ball off the ref than pick up the ball and start dribbling in college

Asked by mike about 8 years ago

The ref is part of the floor, so yes, you can bounce the ball off the ref unless the player is judged to try to harm the ref. If it is malicious then it is unsportsmanlike tech foul.